Toy water guns



y 26, 1959 E. D. O'BRIAN TOY WATER suns Filed June 18, 1956 United States Patent Ofifice 2,888,172 Patented May 26, 1959 TOY WATER GUNS Edward D. OBrian, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 591,976

15 Claims. (Cl. 222-79) This invention relates primarily to toy water or squirt guns.

The ability of toy water guns to amuse both children and adults is well established. It is difiicult, however, to alter the construction of toy water guns so as to provide various new and novel elfects and operating characteristics. At the present time, a number of modified water guns are being marketed so that a child or an adult, by bending a barrel employed in these guns, or by rotating in a single plane a nozzle mounted on the end of them, can shoot in various directions as, for example, from around a corner or the like.

These toy water guns which are capable of shooting around a corner have found very wide acceptance. They, however, suiier from a number of disadvantages when it comes to amusement value. Thus, for example, one toy water gun invented by the inventor named herein, employs a flexible barrel of plastic, and a copper wire located within this barrel. In order to utilize this gun so as to shoot around a corner, it is considered necessary to demobilize the gun or retire the gun from shooting activity while the necessary adjustments to the barrel itself are being made. This is disadvantageous as, for example, in a water fight.

Other related toy guns utilizing a nozzle which can be rotated in a single plane sufier from a similar disadvantage. Pistols formed with this type of construction are relatively diflicult to manipulate so as to rotate the nozzle during their operation. Also, various trick guns of a rifle category employing rotating nozzles disguised as gun sights are similarly diflicult to manipulate when, for example, it is desired to shoot the gun in a variety of directions within a very short period. Also, all of these rotating type nozzles are limited by the fact that they can only rotate in a single plane. Thus, for example, a child using a gun of this type cannot alter the trajectory of the stream of water being propelled from the gun so as to obtain the maximum length of water travel without elevating the gun itself.

A broad object of the present invention is to provide new and improved toy water guns eliminating many of the disadvantages of the aforesaid and other related toy water or squirt gun constructions. More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide toy water guns having a nozzle which can be readily rotated as desired within substantially or nearly a semispherical area so as to direct a stream of water in virtually any desired angle during use without changing the position of the gun itself.

This latter objective, while seemingly of minor and insignificant scope, actually is extremely important from a commercial point of view. Children like to be able to shoot as many diiferent individuals as possible within a very short period during a water fight. With the toy guns of this invention, a child can stand in one location and without moving the actual gun itself, can quickly direct streams of water in a wide variety of locations 2 so as to achieve the desired eifects of shooting in a number of locations, usually with a surprise element involved during this operation.

Because of the nature of this invention, it is not considered necessary to set forth in this specification a long list of specific objects with it, these objects specifying every detail, or nearly every detail of the construction employed. Various other objects of the invention, as

well as many specific advantages of it, will be more fully apparent to those familiar with the toy field from a study of the remainder of the specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elcvational view, partially in section, of a toy water gun of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken at 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side cross sectional view taken in the direction of line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing certain parts in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevational view of certain parts which may be employed with the water gun shown in Fig. 1 so as to modify the operation of the water Fig. 6 is a partial, side elevational view, part of which is in section, of a modified toy water gun of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at ]ine'88 of Fig. 6.

The accompanying drawing is primarily intended to illustrate certain perfected embodiments or constructions of the present invention; it not to be taken as limiting this invention in any respect. It will be fully apparent from a study of the remainder of this specification that certain equivalent parts can be substituted for various parts illustrated. Also, it will be fully apparent that the proportional sizes or dimensions of toy water guns of this invention may be changed from the various proportional sizes illustrated. All such changes involving either substitution of equivalent structures and/ or changes in size and shape, are to be considered as falling within the scope of this invention. Whenever possible in describing the toy guns of the invention, like numerals have been utilized so as to designate like parts.

In order to completely understand this invention, it may be stated in essentially summary form that it involves toy water guns which preferably appear as rifles or tommyguns. These toy water guns are all formed so as to have a gun stock, a barrel projecting from the gun stock; a handle rigidly secured to the stock adjacent to the intersection of the barrel and stock; and a trigger mechanism including pumping means mounted on the gun stock so that water may be caused to flow out through the barrel employed. In addition, these guns severally involve the use of a handle rotatably mounted upon the barrel so as to be capable of rotation in more than one direction; a nozzle of the so-called water gun variety; a nozzle support carrying this nozzle; means placing the nozzle in communication with the barrel so that water can be caused to flow through this nozzle; and means interconnecting the movable handle with the nozzle support whereby motion of the movable handle is employed so as to cause nozzle support to move in synchronism with the movement of the movable handle. Thus, with this type of construction, when the movable handle is rotated in any desired direction or plane, the Water nozzle is similarly rotated so that a toy water gun, as herein described, can be employed to shoot in virtually any desired direction.

The precise nature of this type of construction is better explained referring to the drawing and particularly Figures 1-4 thereof. There is shown a water gun of the invention, which includes a hollow gun stock, 12, and a hollow barrel 14 attached to this gun stock so as to project therefrom. A fixed handle 16 is attached to the gun stock 12 so as to extend therefrom adjacent to the point where the barrel 14 is attached to the stock. A trigger 18 is slidably mounted within a groove 26 in the stock 12 and a rod 22 extends from this trigger through an opening 24 into a cylindrical pump cavity 26. Within this cavity the rod 22 hits against a piston 28. This piston is in turn normally braced by means of a spring 30 towards the direction in which the gun 10 points. Thus, when the trigger 18 is pulled towards the handle 16 the piston is moved within the cavity 26-. The reciprocating motion carried by movement of the trigger and this spring is employed so as to draw liquid from within the stock 12 through a passage 32, past a small ball or check valve 34 into the cavity 26. From this cavity 26, liquid is caused to flow through another passage 36 past another ball valve 38, out through the barrel 14.

At the end of the barrel 14 there is located a small projecting collar 40 around which there is disposed a short length of flexible, plastic tubing 42. This tubing 42 may be composed of polyethylene, a polyvinyl composition, rubber or the like. The other end of this tubing 42 fits over a boss 44 formed on a conventional water gun nozzle 46 having a nozzle opening 48 located therein. Around the exterior of the nozzle 46 there is formed a small, annular groove 56 which locks within an opening 52 in a nozzle support 54.

The nozzle support 54 is preferably provided with an internal surface 56 of slightly greater than slightly spherical configuration. This surface 56 during the operation of the gun 10 rides upon or is carried upon a correspondingly shaped exterior surface 58 formed on second mounting member 60. This second mounting member is, as shown on Fig. 4 of the drawings, located upon the end of the barrel 14 so as to be positioned generally around the tubing 42. It is, as shown, preferably of hollow shape so as not to prevent bending of the tubing 42 during the operation of the gun.

A first mounting member 62 of a generally spherical external configuration is preferably positioned upon the barrel 14 midway between handle 16 and the end of this barrel. Upon the outside of it there is carried a bandshaped collar 64 having an internal surface 66 corresponding to the shape of the mounting member 62. The collar 64 is in turn formed as a part of a movable handle 68 which extends from the barrel 14 in much the manner in which the handle 16 extends from the gun stock 12.

A slot 76 is located within the handle 68, and one end of a rigid link 72, is held within this slot 76 by means of a small rivet 74 or the like so as to be capable of rotation in a single plane. It should be specifically noted that the slot 70 is of comparatively narrow dimension, and serves to hold the link 72 so that it may be only rotated with respect to the handle 63 within the same plane as this handle itself. The other end of the link 72 is similarly held within a slot '78 in a bracket 80 extending from the nozzle support 54, by means of another rivet 76.

Thus, with this construction, when the handle 68 is rotated so as to rotate the link 72, this rotation is transmitted by this link to the nozzle support 54 so as to rotate this nozzle support. Similarly when the handle 68 is twisted about or around the barrel 14, the link 72 is moved, and hence, the nozzle support 54 is rotated in the same directioin as the handle 68. All of such movement of the nozzle support results in movement of the nozzle 46. Throughout such movement, the tubing 42 gives,

twists and rotates so that liquid communication between the nozzle 46 and the barrel 14 is maintained.

It is considered that the operation of the toy gun 10 is fairly obvious from the foregoing description. In use, a child grasps the handle 16 with one hand, and the handle 68 with the other hand. While proceeding to move the trigger 18 he can, by either rotating the movable member 68 with respect to the barrel 14 (in a single plane) or by twisting this movable handle (i.e. rotating it around the barrel), cause the nozzle 46 to be pointed either up or down or to either side, or various other odd miscellaneous positions. Obviously, when the nozzle 46 is so directed and the trigger 18 is operated, a stream of water will flow in the direction which the nozzle 46 is operated.

Since the largest part of the shooting of any toy water gun is normally directly ahead of the gun, it is deemed preferable for commercial purposes to insert within this toy gun some sort of device which will automatically return the nozzle 46 to the straight-ahead position shown when the handle 63 is disengaged, or when a very restricted aim of pressure only is applied to it. A construction accomplishing this result is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This construction is the same as that described in the preceding figures; a tubing 42 is used in this construction as described in conjunction with the gun 16. Around this tubing there is located a common coil spring 82, which preferably projects over a collar such as a collar 46 shown, and over a boss such as the boss 44 shown. This collar spring 82 will automatically return the nozzle 46 to the desired straight-ahead position when only a restricted amount of pressure is applied to the movable handle 68. It also serves to help prevent constriction of tubing 42 when this tubing is turned at a sharp angle.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 in the drawings, there is shown a modified construction which may be employed with the invention. This construction utilizes a barrel 84 similar to the barrel 14 previously described. This barrel 84 is attached to a gun stock, a pumping mechanism, etc., in the same construction previously indicated. Around it are located a first set of collars 86, and a second set of collars 88. Between the collars 86 there is rotatably mounted upon the barrel 84 small sleeve 91 which in the construction shown may be conveniently snapped into place. Projecting from opposite sides of this sleeve are aligned bosses 92 which fit within the correspondingly shaped openings 94 in a Y-shaped yoke 96 projecting from a movable handle 98. A link 1% is attached to a fiat surface of the yoke 96 by means of a rivet 162 so as to connect this movable handle 98 with a nozzle support 104.

The nozzle support is formed with a yoke 166 projecting therefrom so that openings 16? in this yoke fit over other bosses 92 projecting from another sleeve 99 located between the collars 88. The link 1611 is, as shown, attached to a fiat surface of the nozzle support 164. An arm 11th on this nozzle support is attached by any convenient means such as an adhesive to a nozzle 112 having an opening 114 formed therein. This opening projects through a boss 116 formed on the nozzle 112 so that a small link of flexible tubing 11.3 such as the tubing 42 previously described may be pushed over it interconnecting the opening 114 with the barrel 84. One end of this tubing fits over a collar 1213 on the end of the barrel 84. A small coil spring 122 such as the spring 82 previously described, may be pushed around the tub ing 118.

The operation of the modified structure shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings is substantially identical to the operation of the toy water gun 10 and hence will not be described in detail in this application. This modified structure has an advantage over the construction of the gun 10 in that with it, it is possible to rotate the nozzle 46 over a slightly greater area than possible to rotate the nozzle 46 in the toy gun 10. However, the modified structure shown in these latter figures has the disadvantage for commercial purposes that it is not quite as neat and modernistic in appearance as the :gun 10. Also, with this modified structure, certain of the modified parts are exposed to view and potential damage by a child. It is possible, however, to consider both of the types of structures shown in the drawings as being more or less the equivalent of one another since both of these structures utilize what may be termed a universal joint type of connection between the barrel and the movable handle and between the barrel and the nozzle support. Obviously, other structures besides those specifically shown can be utilized'in creating this type of connection.

In order to decrease the amount of rotation required by the movable handle in order to rotate the nozzle utilized in either of the constructions over a given angle, it is possible to form toy guns as illustrated so that the distance a shown in Fig. 4 between the center of rotation of the link 72 upon the handle 68 and the center of rotation of the movable handle 68 is greater than the distance b shown in this same figure between the center of rotation of the link 72 with respect to the nozzle support 54 and the center of rotation of thisnozzle support itself. Thus, with this type of construction a multiplication elfect is achieved so that the handle 68 need only be rotated through a comparatively small angle in a forward direction so as to tilt the nozzle 46 up a greater angle. The type of spacing between centers of rotation are also preferably employed with a modified structure shown in Fig. 6. This multiplication of rotation through use of mechanical means is considered to be very important in achieving a satisfactory commercial embodiment of the invention.

Because of the nature of this invention, it is to be alforded comparatively wide scope and is to be considered as being limited only by the appended claims. While no specific description has been given in this specification of the various materials which may be employed in forming toy guns, as described herein, it is to be understood that these toy guns may be manufactured of any conventional rigid materials employed for toys except as respect to said barrel said nozzle support is moved with specifically indicated. Thus, for example, they may be manufactured out of rigid polystyrene or the like. Any convenient assembly method can be employed. Further, any known type of pumping or trigger mechanism can be utilized. It is not to be asstuned that this invention is to be considered as limited to guns of the rifle or tommygun variety in appearance as many of the features described herein can also be employed with toy pistols.

While in all of the forms of the invention shown a flexible tube has been used to connect the nozzle employed and a gun barrel it is to be understood that various other types of structures serving the same purpose can be employed. Thus, various types of universal fittings can be used instead of these tubes, and, if desired, a seal can be formed directly between the nozzle support and the end of a barrel. Further, it is not to be assumed that this invention is limited only to toy squirt guns having a pumping mechanism disposed therein since it is obviously of broader scope. Because of these factors the invention is to be consideredas being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described which includes: a barrel; a movable handle member mounted on said barrel so as to be positioned away from the outlet end of said barrel and so as to be capable of rotation in more than one plane with respect to said barrel; a nozzle support mounted on the end of said barrel so as to be capable of rotation in more than one plane with respect to said barrel; means connecting said handle member and said nozzle support so as to cause said handle member and said nozzle support to move in synchronism with one another whereby when said handle member is moved with nozzle support; and passage means for conveying fluid from said barrel to said nozzle so that fiuid may pass through said nozzle.

2. A device of the class described as defined in claim 1 wherein said means connecting said handle member and said nozzle support comprises a link pivotally attached to said handle member and to said nozzle support, said link being capable of rotation with respect to said handle member and said nozzle support in only a single plane.

3. A device of the class described as defined in claim 1 including spring means interconnecting said nozzle support and said barrel so as to automatically return said nozzle support to a given position when said handle member is disengaged.

4. A device of the class described as defined in claim 1 wherein said means connecting said handle member and said nozzle support is formed so that movement of said handle member results in greater movement of said nozzle support.

5. A toy water gun'which comprises: a hollow gun stock; a hollow barrel secured to one end of said stock so as to project therefrom; a handle rigidly secured to said end of said stock; a trigger slidably mounted on said stock adjacent to said handle; a pumping mechanism having an inlet and an outlet positioned within said stock, said inlet leading from the hollow interior of said stock and said outlet being in communication with the interior of said barrel; means operatively connecting said trigger and said pumping mechanism whereby when said trigger is moved said pumping mechanism is actuated so as to cause liquid to flow from the interior of said stock into said barrel; a movable handle member mounted on said barrel between said stock and the outlet end of said barrel so as to be capable of rotation in more than one plane; a nozzle support mounted on the end of said barrel so as to be capable of rotation in more than one plane; means connecting said handle member and said nozzle support so as to cause said handle member and said nozzle support to move in synchronism with one another; means defining a nozzle on said nozzle support; and passage means for conveying liquid from said barrel to said nozzle.

6. A toy water gun which comprises: a hollow gun stock; a hollow barrel secured to one end of said stock so as to project therefrom; a handle rigidly secured to said end of said stock; a trigger slidably mounted on said stock adjacent to said handle; a pumping mechanism having an inlet and an outlet positioned within said stock, said inlet leading from the hollow interior of said stock and said outlet being in communication with the interior of said barrel; means operatively connecting said trigger and said pumping mechanism whereby when said trigger is moved said pumping mechanism is actuated so as to cause liquid to flow from the interior of said stock into said barrel; a movable handle member mounted on said barrel between said stock and the outlet end of said barrel so as to be capable of rotation in more than one plane; a nozzle support mounted on the end of said barrel so as to be capable of rotation in more than one plane; a link connecting said handle member and said nozzle support, said link being pivotally attached to said handle member and said nozzle support so as to be capable of rotation with respect to said handle member and said nozzle support in a single direction; means defining a nozzle on said nozzle support; and a flexible tube secured to said nozzle and to the end of said barrel so as to convey liquid from said barrel to said nozzle.

7. A toy water gun as defined in claim 6 wherein the distance between the center of rotation of said link With respect to said movable handle member and the center of rotation in said movable handle member is greater than the distance between the center of rotation of said link with respect to said nozzle support and the center of rotation of said nozzle support whereby rotation of said handle member in a plane causes a greater amount of rotation of said nozzle support in said plane.

8. A toy water gun as defined in claim 6 including a coil spring located around said flexible tube, said coil spring extending over the end of said barrel, said coil spring serving to return said nozzle to an initial position when said movable handle member is released, and said flexible spring serving to aid in preventing constriction of said flexible tube as said movable handle member is moved so as to cause bending of said flexible tube.

9. A toy water gun which comprises: a hollow gun stock; a hollow barrel rigidly secured to one end of said stock so as to project therefrom; a handle rigidly secured to said end of said stock; a trigger slidably mounted on said stock adjacent to said handle; a pumping mechanism having an inlet and an outlet positioned within said stock; said inlet leading from the hollow interior of said stock and said outlet being in communication with the interior of said barrel; means operatively connecting said trigger and said pumping mechanism whereby when said trigger is moved said pumping mechanism is actuated so as to cause liquid to flow from the interior of said stock into said barrel; a first mounting member having a spherical exterior surface rigidly secured symmetrically about said barrel between said stock and the outlet end of said barrel; a second mounting member rigidly secured adjacent to the end of said barrel, said second mounting member having a spherical exterior surface and an end, said end facing away from said stock, said second mounting member being symmetrically mounted with respect to said barrel; a movable handle member including means adapted to be engaged by a hand located at one end thereof, means defining an opening in the other end thereof, said opening having an internal wall of the shape of part of a sphere of larger diameter than the diameter of said surface of said first mounting member; means defining a slot formed therein and a pin projecting through said slot, said handle member being located with said opening surrounding said first mounting member; a nozzle support including means defining an opening formed therein having the internal shape of part of a sphere of larger diameter than the diameter of said second mounting member, said opening fitting over said second mounting member so as to be movably positioned thereon, a projection formed on the exterior surface thereof; means defining a slot formed in said projection, and a pin projecting through said slot; a link having holes formed therein positioned so as to pass from said movable handle member to said nozzle support, said link passing into said slots, and said pins passing through said holes; means defining a nozzle on said nozzle support, said means including a projecting boss extending into said opening in said nozzle support; and a flexible tube secured to the end of said barrel and to said boss.

10. A toy water gun as defined in claim 9 wherein the distance between the center of rotation of said link with respect to said movable handle member and the center of rotation in said movable handle member is greater than the distance between the center of rotation of said link with respect to said nozzle support and the center of rotation of said nozzle support whereby rotation of said handle member in a plane causes a greater amount of rotation of said nozzle support in said plane.

11. A toy water gun as defined in claim 9 including a coil spring located around said flexible tube, said coil spring extending over the end of said barrel, said coil spring serving to return said nozzle to an initial position when said movable handle member is released, and said flexible spring serving to aid in preventing constriction of said flexible tube as said movable handle member is moved so as to cause bending of said flexible tube.

12. A toy water gun which comprises: a hollow gun stock; a hollow barrel rigidly secured to one end of said stock so as to project therefrom; a handle rigidly secured to said end of said stock; a trigger slidably mounted on said stock adjacent to said handle; a pumping mechanism having an inlet and an outlet positioned within said stock, said inlet leading from the hollow interior of said stock and said outlet being in communication with the interior of said barrel; means operatively connecting said trigger and said pumping mechanism whereby when said trigger is moved said pumping mechanism is actuated so as to cause fluid to flow from the interior of said stock into said barrel; a first set of collars spaced from one another around the exterior of said barrel between said stock and the outlet end of said barrel; a second set of collars spaced from one another around the exterior of said barrel adjacent to the end thereof; small rotatable sleeves positioned between said collars of each of said sets; a movable handle rotatably mounted on said sleeve between the collars of the first of said sets of collars; a link pivotally attached to a flat surface of said movable handle; a nozzle support rotatably mounted on said sleeve located between said collars of said second set of collars at the end of said barrel, said link being pivotally attached to said nozzle support; a nozzle member mounted on said nozzle support so as to be spaced from the end of said barrel; and a flexible tube connecting said nozzle member and the end of said barrel whereby when said movable handle is moved said nozzle member is moved in synchronism with said movable handle, and said nozzle member remains in liquid communication with said barrel.

13. A toy water gun as defined in claim 12 wherein the distance between the center of rotation of said link with respect to said movable handle member and the center of rotation in said movable member is greater than the distance between the center of rotation of said link with respect to said nozzle support and the center of rotation of said nozzle support whereby rotation of said handle member in a plane causes a greater amount of rotation of said nozzle support in said plane.

14. A toy water gun as defined in claim 12 including a coil spring located around said flexible tube, said coil spring extending over the end of said barrel, said coil spring serving to return said nozzle to an initial position when said movable handle member is released, and said flexible spring serving to aid in preventing constriction of said flexible tube as said movable handle member is moved so as to cause bending of said flexible tube.

15. A toy water gun which includes: a gun stock; a gun barrel mounted on said gun stock so as to extend therefrom; a nozzle movably mounted on the end of said gun stock; a pumping mechanism located in said gun stock, said pumping mechanism being connected to said nozzle, and handle means located so as to be spaced from said nozzle; means connecting said handle means with said nozzle and other means connecting said handle means with said barrel, whereby said handle means may be moved in ditferent directions so as to direct said nozzle in different directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,712 Riggs May 17, 1910 2,345,173 Baggott Mar. 28, 1944 2,746,644 Steiner May 22, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 628,404 Germany Apr. 3, 1936 

